In Iran, democratically-elected President Ali Larijani is assassinated by Islamic fundamentalist opposition. This evident will ripple throughout the region and the world and come to be known as the first snowflake of the Arab Winter. Civil Wars kindle in Iraq and Syria...

The second term is quickly turning into a nightmare. Healthcare, Electoral and Education reform are but distant memories. Support for military intervention in Iran is voiced in the Congress, most ebulliently by Senator John McCain, who as a result of his ebullience will collapse on the Senate floor mid-speech. News of the Senator's apparent stroke will consume the airwaves and capture the public's heart for days. But that attention will be swiftly diverted when President Obama flies to Afghanistan on a goodwill visit to troops...

On a morale-boosting mission to FOB Geronimo, Afghanistan, President Obama and a State/Defense department contingent perish onboard Air Force One when suspiciously advanced surface-to-air missiles penetrate it's fuselage over South Waziristan, killing all onboard. The Taliban claim responsibilty for the attacks. Among the fatalities are Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Congressmen Buck McKeon and Adam Smith; Senators Kerry and Lugar; White House and respective staff of both departments. Vice-President Biden reportedly vomits upon receiving the news before addressing the nation from an undisclosed location, telling Americans that "Together we will get through these hard times. The Taliban may have taken President Obama's life, but they didn't take our pride, courage and commitment to the ideals he fought for." Just hours later, the deceased Presidents's former campaign rival John McCain will too pass away after a week-long battle with cerebrovascualr ischemia. The nation mourns for what will seem an eternity and the largest crowds ever gathered for such an event will attend his state funeral, where a dark-veiled First Lady will audibly sob with her visibly distraught daughters.

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States in a ceremony at the White House, which he will follow with a short address before sitting down to sign an executive order authorising a further troop surge in South Waziristan in a move symbolic of a tireless administration.

His first legislative pushover will be the nomination of Jeanne Shaheen to the Vice-Presidency. She is nominated on acclamation to become the 48th Vice President of the United States.

Special Senate Elections will be held in Massachusetts, Arizona and Indiana to fill the seats of Kerry, McCain and Lugar, respectively. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano will consider resigning for a run but President Biden talks her out of it.

The President will ask for Chief of Staff Jacob Lew's resignation before appointing long-time aide Ted Kaufman to the position.

Biden's sweeping reforms will be put on hold til the expected Democratic Congressional landslides of 2016. For now, he will fight a new War on Fear with troop surges in Pakistan, which will only further exacerbate tensions and act as "recruitment bonanzas" for a reformed Taliban/Al Quaeda, which seeks to unite all Muslims (Sunni and Shea) against Western Imperialism. The insurgency is pushed out into the surrounding nations of Tajikistan, Iran and rubs up agaisnt India in the form of car-bombings which will lead to Inidan military involvement in the conflict.

Biden's sweeping reforms will be put on hold til the expected Democratic Congressional landslides of 2016. For now, he will fight a new War on Fear with troop surges in Pakistan, which will only further exacerbate tensions and act as "recruitment bonanzas" for a reformed Taliban/Al Quaeda, which seeks to unite all Muslims (Sunni and Shea) against Western Imperialism. The insurgency is pushed out into the surrounding nations of Tajikistan, Iran and rubs up agaisnt India in the form of car-bombings which will lead to Inidan military involvement in the conflict.

Sorry, I'm confused. With "it's a big f---king deal" in the white house, how exactly are the Dems expected to get landslides after eight years of incumbency? Even if Obama died, that wouldn't make people any more likely to go along with what this guy has to say:

The landscape for 2016 (in the Senate) is ugly for Republicans. They'll have to defend seats they picked up by a hair in 2010 when they had maximum momentum against the GE electorate, which would be more favorable to the dems (youth+minority turn out). I imagine the battles for WI, IL, NH, PA, NC, FL, AZ, IA, OH could all have the potential to be hard fought, depending on Dem turnout and retirements. Not saying all of those will be competitive 4 years from now, but they'll be in the boat Democrats are in this year: fighting for the majority of the seats.

The country's wrapped un pin another big War on Terror, so a Neocon coalition of bipartisan big Govt-ers can dominate the legislative agenda, as in 02. Seeing as the incumbents are Dems, we're expecting what we saw in the 02 midterms.

Biden recognises the new Republic of Cuba, and appoints Senator Rubio as Ambassador to reflect the new administration's bipartisan, forgive-and-forget attitude. Rubio accepts, though his Cuban base of support will mostly turn their backs on him. Although many consider it to be the best thing that could ahve happened to his career, as he would have likely been primried out of office in 2016.

Sorry fellas, but I'm dumping this timeline as I don't feel Islamic jihadism is quite so topical or interesting anymore (anybody get the jab I made with Biden's inauguration date?). I will start another 2012-onwards tl soon...

Sorry fellas, but I'm dumping this timeline as I don't feel Islamic jihadism is quite so topical or interesting anymore (anybody get the jab I made with Biden's inauguration date?). I will start another 2012-onwards tl soon...